Kobe Bryant puts up a shot as Portland forward Nicolas Batum is late to defend during the first half Friday. MARK J. TERRILL, AP

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant's declaration wasn't as dramatic as when former coach Pat Riley guaranteed the Lakers would win a third consecutive title, but it still was a bold statement.

Bryant said in an interview the Lakers would qualify for the postseason – long odds considering they remain 3½ games out of one of eight playoff spots Friday despite beating Portland, 111-107, at Staples Center.

"It's not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will," Bryant told Sports Illustrated. "And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone – Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, whoever. I have zero nervousness about that."

Coach Mike D'Antoni said he hopes every one of his players feels the same way, adding "I would be surprised (if they didn't).

Steve Nash said it's great when the team's leader has that kind of "confidence and challenge. He's put it out there for us to go get."

Earl Clark said the Lakers need to have that kind of mindset every time they step on the court.

"If you do, you'll make it," Clark said.

Bryant's confidence stems from the Lakers' recent performance against the defending champion Miami Heat. The Lakers played the Heat close for three quarters before losing their way down the stretch and falling, 107-97.

"We will make the playoffs," he said in the article. "And we will compete. .... We had control of the game. That was no fluke. We were playing very, very well. We were reading the defense, making the extra pass."

Metta World Peace wasn't caught off-guard by Bryant's statements. Making the playoffs has been his mantra for much of this roller-coaster season, never giving up his belief the team would eventually come together and find chemistry.

"I'm not going back on my word, so you know where I stand," World Peace said. "Everybody knows where I stand as to what I want and what I believe we need to do."

CUBAN SPEAKS OUT

Dallas' outspoken owner Mark Cuban knows how to tweak the Lakers, and he did it again Friday when he suggested the team amnesty Bryant during the offseason. Predictably neither Bryant nor the team found it amusing.

"I bet he did," Bryant said wryly, when told of Cuban's comments.

Cuban expressed his opinions during a interview on a Dallas radio station, saying, "If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight Howard comes back, you've got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe? You just don't know, right?

"So I'm just saying that hypothetically. When I say amnesty Kobe, I don't think they'd do it, but they've got some choices to make. Now, they're in a big market, but they're still limited. The Knicks, the same thing. Boston, same thing."

The Lakers, who are hoping to re-sign Howard after this season, will pay Bryant a league-high $30.45 million salary next season, the final year of his contract.

The Lakers could use their amnesty on three others – Pau Gasol, who will make $19.3 million next season, Metta World Peace ($7.7 million) and Steve Blake ($4 million), which would eliminate the luxury taxes on their salaries, but not their salary.

NOTES

Howard aggravated his right shoulder late in the second quarter when he got hit by Portland's Victor Claver, but stayed in the game. He returned to the court after halftime and managed to play through any discomfort, finishing with 19 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots. It was his second consecutive double-double and third in the past four games.

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